OPINION: Capture the moment, not the video

Hang on for a minute...we're trying to find some more stories you might like.

Email This Story

Send email to this addressEnter Your NameAdd a comment hereVerification

The root of my hate came about a year ago at a Weeks concert. I was standing behind a man who videoed the entire concert with one of the Galaxy phones that are about the size of a brick. Because of this, I was not only barely able to see, but also I began to notice how many event-goers spend their time videoing instead of enjoying.

Why do people these days feel as if their access to an easy video camera somehow makes them obligated to be a videographer? It seems that people today are incapable of keeping their phone in their pocket during a concert, show, parade, or any other event.

I too am not innocent in this matter; many times I have found myself deleting video after video of useless concert footage. Those were minutes to hours that I could have spent actually enjoying the music instead of worrying about keeping my camera steady and making sure that the musicians were in view. The entire reason to go to a concert is to experience it live and not have to watch it on TV or on a computer.

However, I ended up viewing the concert through a screen anyway because I felt that I needed to capture the moment. I have asked around and it seems that everyone I ask admits to taking excessive videos at concerts and then never viewing them again, therefore having wasted their time. Concerts are meant to be enjoyed in the moment, put your phone down and enjoy the fact that you are there live.

Concerts are only a small portion of the problem. In sports games, shows, and other events the same problem occurs. I remember specifically at an Ole Miss football game one of my friends attempted to video every play so they could get a video of an amazing catch, run, or pass. After taking over fifty, ten second videos that they would soon delete, his phone died. He never got the video he wanted, his phone was dead, and he had been so worried about missing a play that he missed almost the entire experience of being at a college football game. The noise, excitement, and fun of being with your friends and engaging in the game was all missed because he could not put his phone down.

Snapchat has much to do with this epidemic. The app actually encourages people to take quick ten second videos for all your friends to see in hopes they find them interesting. The truth is, most people click through them to clear a notification. It is quite annoying when someone feels the need to upload 200 seconds worth of poor quality footage where you can half hear the event and half hear them screaming their head off. All in all, just because Snapchat allows you to share every second of the event you’re attending, does not necessarily mean you should.

I am not saying that people need to stop capturing memories through video. I also understand how important a video or a picture can be in remembering an experience. The problem starts when the videoing itself takes away from your or others experience, it becomes a problem that is too often seen today.

Instead of taking video after video, not only wasting your time but also blocking the view of the person behind you, snap a quick picture. This will allow you to remember the event whenever you come across it.

The best way to remember and enjoy an event is to keep your phone in your pocket and create a memory instead of capturing one.